VISUALISING VOLCANIC PROCESSES IN GOOGLE SKETCH-UP©: A GEOLOGIC TEACHING TOOL

Prominent eroded volcanic features commonly dominate the landscape, and attract interest due to their somewhat unusual appearance, stimulating interest in the geological processes that formed these features. In utilising Google Sketch-Up^© to model these complex processes, stages of formation and key features can be conveyed and utilised by educators as a comprehensive geologic teaching tool. This study outlines the constraints and considerations which must be taken into account when developing a virtual geologic representation, the procedure of creating a model of the observed geology using Google Sketch-Up^©, and the methods through which educators can convey the enclosed information to students at various academic levels. In developing a geological model, an understanding of the physical processes within the formation and degradation of geological features is integral, requiring field observations, measurements, and supportive analysis. A hypothetical model informed and constrained by geological information is then formulated then visualized using the three dimensional Google Sketch-Up^© environment. By utilising the framework of Google Sketch-Up^©, a full spectrum interactive geologically accurate model of the geological processes can be visualised and interacted with via geospatial layers, enabling an understanding of intrusive, eruptive, and erosional processes.